title: Traumatic atlantooccipital dislocation with survival.
abstract: Traumatic atlantooccipital dislocation is generally considered incompatible with life. However, there have been isolated survivals from this injury, and a few patients initially have minimal neurologic deficits disproportionate to the gravity of their injury, a feature that has not been adequately stressed. The potentially catastrophic results of delayed therapy make early radiographic detection imperative. Marked retropharyngeal soft-tissue swelling, an abnormal basion-odontoid alignment, and posterior displacement of the atlas are diagnostic of anterior atlantooccipital dislocation. In the more uncommon posterior atlantooccipital dislocation an abnormal basion-odontoid alignment associated with marked soft-tissue swelling should suggest the correct diagnosis. Conventional tomography can be confirmatory.
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D001269:Atlanto-Occipital Joint / Q000293:injuries*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors; D014143:Traction